**Budget Officer Warns of Unsustainable Federal Debt Under Carney**

The Parliamentary Budget Officer has raised serious concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney's budget plan, labeling it as unsustainable. Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques addressed a parliamentary committee, stating, "The most important word in the release this morning was ‘unsustainable.’ The current path we’re on in terms of federal debt as the share of the economy is unsustainable."

Jacques emphasized the gravity of the situation, comparing it to managing a household budget. He said, "If you sit down at the end of the month and you don’t have enough money to pay your bills and it happens month after month after month, you know that something is going to break."

The numbers support his claims. The government is projected to borrow $68.5 billion this year, which is approximately $17 billion more than the previous year. Over the next four years, Carney's administration is expected to add about $255 billion to the national debt. In contrast, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had planned to increase the debt by $131 billion during the same period.

Carney's approach to debt has raised eyebrows, especially since he campaigned on the promise of being different from his predecessor. However, the current trajectory suggests that Carney's policies may lead to even higher debt levels than Trudeau's.

The implications of this debt are significant for Canadians. With the federal debt surpassing $1.3 trillion, each Canadian's share of the debt averages around $32,000. Without cuts to government spending, this debt will eventually be repaid through taxes, either now or with interest in the future.

Interest charges on the debt are particularly concerning. This year, taxpayers will face $55.3 billion in interest payments, which is projected to balloon to an $82 billion deficit by 2030. Each Canadian will contribute approximately $1,300 this year solely for interest payments, diverting funds away from essential services and tax relief.

Moreover, the government will spend more on interest payments than it allocates to provinces for healthcare. Analysts have indicated that the situation may be even worse than reported, with an estimated $20 billion in spending not yet accounted for in the Liberal platform.

While the government has attempted to attribute these financial challenges to external factors like the trade war, analysts argue that the real issue lies in excessive spending. Ottawa is expected to gain an additional $8 billion from counter tariffs, and government revenues are projected to rise significantly from 2024 to 2030.

Carney's administration plans to increase spending by $19 billion this year, compounding a decade of fiscal mismanagement and tax increases. Despite a 15 percent increase in government revenue from 2015 to 2024, spending has surged by 27 percent when adjusted for inflation and population growth.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer is urging immediate action to address these financial concerns. Without significant cuts to spending, Canadians may face severe economic repercussions in the future.